Cleaning House: How to Tidy Up and Declutter Without Professional Help

More from our DIY Series: Cleaning House: How to Tidy Up and Declutter Without Professional Help

Cleaning and decluttering are great ways to improve your home and your health, but they can be big jobs that take a lot of time and effort to complete. Many homeowners try to take care of smaller cleaning jobs throughout the week when they have a few minutes to spare and leave the bigger projects for the weekend. However, when you have kids or other obligations, sometimes those good intentions fall by the wayside. These days, more and more people are turning to professional help for whipping their homes into shape, but the good news is that there are several easy ways you can get started on your own without having to pay for assistance.

If you have limited time, it may be a good idea to create a cleaning routine that will allow you to get things done throughout the week. This might include dividing the chore between your family members, which will help take the bulk of the burden off your shoulders, or it might simply be an easy way to keep track of what needs to be taken care of. For example, turning Mondays into kitchen-cleaning days, Tuesdays for bathrooms, Wednesdays for laundry, and so on will allow you to stay on top of the cleaning tasks without overwhelming you.

There are several details to consider, which might include some of the following tips.

No matter what kind of floors you have in your home, you’ll want to find a great vacuum that can handle any type of mess. Your pet’s favorite napping spot, high-traffic areas, and kids’ rooms might need a little extra love, so look for a vacuum that will work great on carpet, tile, and hardwood so you won’t have to switch back and forth between cleaning tools as you go. There are several on the market that won’t break the bank; do a little research to find the right one for your needs, and make sure you check out guides and read the reviews before you buy.

Clean Out That Clutter

You may have seen television shows that bring together a family with a professional clutter banisher, and often these shows focus on cleaning and organizing a single space. You can go through your entire house, however, and get rid of things you no longer want or need and tidy up. The key is to prevent the process from becoming overwhelming. Staying organized will help, so make sure you start by gathering all the materials you’ll need. Boxes, trash bags, cleaning supplies, and a large black marker will all come in handy. Mark each box so you can keep track of where the contents are going: trash, donation, or keep. Items that can be consolidated, such as photo albums that can be scanned and saved on a hard drive, can be packed away and put into storage; you can also go digital with collections.

Groom Your Pets

If you have pets, you probably know how hard it can be to keep things clean. One of the easiest ways to stay on top of cleaning around pets is simply keeping them properly groomed. If you have a long-haired cat or dog, take them outside to a secure area a couple of times a week and brush them well. During colder months, however, have a groomer cut their hair, as it tends to grow in thicker during that time. Keeping a towel or some pet wipes by the door to clean your dog’s feet after a walk will leave your floors looking new even during rainy season.

Use Storage Solutions

Many clutter and organizational problems can be solved with some clever storage solutions, especially if you have limited space in your home. Utilize bins, over-the-door organizers, and hidden racks that can be mounted inside a cabinet door to save room while keeping things neat and tidy, especially in the kitchen, bathroom, and garage.

Cleaning your home and getting it organized doesn’t have to require a Herculean effort. With some simple tricks and techniques, you can stay on top of your home’s chores without all the stress. Get the family involved to make the process even easier, and think of some ways to incorporate fun so that everyone will get on board, such as playing upbeat music.

I am a full-time REALTOR® personally specializing in historic homes and luxury home sales in the Charlotte NC real estate market. My team specializes in a variety of areas including first time home buyers, condos and townhomes as well as single family home sales and marketing.
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I am a full-time REALTOR® personally specializing in historic homes and luxury home sales in the Charlotte NC real estate market. My team specializes in a variety of areas including first time home buyers, condos and townhomes as well as single family home sales and marketing.